Waste disposal unit



Fume 15, 1943. owERs 2,322,058

WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT Filed May 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invent or":James H Powers,

byjv/ MW Hi Attorney.

June 15, 1943. J H. POWERS WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT Filed May 13, 1941 Fig.4.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 His Attorney.

Patented June 15, 1943 WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT James H. Powers, Fort Wayne,11111., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication May 13, 1941, Serial No. 393,222

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for the disposal of wastematerial, and particularly to apparatus for receiving a mixture ofgarbage and water and reducing or comminuting the solid particles toproduce a flowable mixture suitable for discharge to a sewer system.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction inapparatus of this type, and for a consideration of what I believe to benovel and my invention, attention is directed to the followingdescription and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a wastedisposal device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view,taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary viewshowing the relation of one of the impeller elements to the shreddingchamber; Fig. 4 is a development of part of the side walls of theshredding chamber; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of that part of theshredding chamber shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a waste disposal device havingan upper casing section I fixed to and depending from the drain opening2 of a sink 3. Fixed to the lower end of the casing section I is afrusto conical casing section 4 having a bottom flange 5 carrying anelectric motor 6 and provided with an outlet 1 for connection with thedrain pipe of a sewer system. Within the lower casing section 4 is afrusto conical shredding chamber 8 clamped between a shoulder 9 at theupper end of the casing section B and a shoulder ill on the bottomflange 5. The shredding chamber is resiliently supported by rubber ringsI l and I2 respectively arranged between the upper and lower ends of theshredding chamber and the shoulders 9 and Ill. The rubber rings serve assound isolating supports for the shredding chamber and also as sealsbetween the ends of the shredding chamber and the casing. The shreddingchamber is a replaceable unit which may be disassembled from the casingby removing the bottom flange.

At the lower or larger diameter end of the shredding chamber is aflywheel l3 flxed to the motor shaft l4 and having, as shown at IS ,inFig. 3, a running clearance with the inner surface of the shreddingchamber. In the outer part of the flywheel are recesses I6 receivingimpeller or crushing elements I! pivotally carried on pins [8 extendingacross the side walls of the recesses 16. The center of gravity of theimpeller elements H is. above and radially inward ofthe pivot pins 18.Accordingly when the flywheel I3 is stationary, the impeller elementspivot inward to the position shown at the right in Fig. 1 in which thesurface IS on the impeller elements rest on the inclined surface 20 atthe inner edge of the recesses l6. Upon rotation of the flywheel t3 theimpeller elements pivot outward to the position shown in Fig. 3 and areheld in this position by centrifugal force. Upon meeting an obstructionthe impeller elements are free to pivot inward to prevent jamming.

In the side walls of the shredding chambe at the lower end are a seriesof straining grooves 2| the upper ends of which communicate with theshredding chamber and the lower ends of which discharge into an annularreceiving chamber 22 connected to the outlet I. The grooves 2| limit thesize of particles discharged from the shredding chamber into thereceiving chamber. The straining grooves alone, while satisfactory forbrittle materials such a bones, are not entirely satisfactory for leafymaterial such as corn husks. It would be possible for such material topass lengthwise through the grooves in a stringy form which mightultimately result in clogging of the drainpipes of the sewer system.This is prevented in my construction by shearing surfaces 23 on theimpeller elements ll within the receiving chamber 22 and below the loweror discharge ends of the straining grooves 2|. The shearing surfaces 23are inclined downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and have arunning clearance with corresponding tapered surfaces 24 at thedischarge ends of the straining grooves. Upon rotation of the flywheell3 the shearing surfaces 23 are moved past the discharge ends of thestraining'grooves and act to clip material flowing through the grooves.This clipping action is particularly effective on the stringy leafymaterials and reduces the size of such materials so as to preventclogging of the drain.

Below the shearing surfaces 23 in the impeller elements are fiuidpropelling projections 25 which act as a centrifugal pump to force thefiowable mixture of comminuted garbage and water from the receivingchamber 22 to the outlet 'I. This centrifugal pumping action isincreased by vanes 26 in the receiving chamber fixed to the under sideof the flywheel;

The shredding chamber 8 is preferably made of an alloy iron castingheat-treated to a cutting tool hardness. On theinner walls of theshredding chamber are shredding projections consisting of bosses 21having cutting surfaces 28 extending radially inward from andcircumferentially around the side walls of the shredding chamber. Theleading ends 29 of the cutting sur faces are smooth, and the remainingpart of the cutting surfaces is provided with scallops 30. The cuttingsurfaces are presented toward the larger diameter end of the shreddingchamber and are inclined toward the impeller element I! as regards itsdirection ofrotation so that the material contacting the cutting surfaceis deflected toward the impeller elements. The mixture of water andgarbage, while being whirled around the walls of the shredding chamberby the rotation 'of the impeller elements I], also tends to move towardthe larger diameter end of the shredding chamber due to centrifugalforce. As shown in Fig. 5, the cutting surfaces project radially inwardfrom the walls of the shredding chamber a distance which is relativelysmall compared to the length or circumferential extent of the cuttingsurfaces. The bosses 21 have relatively smooth surfaces 3| extendingaxially from the inner edges of the cutting surfaces toward the smallerdiameter end of the shredding cham ber, and merging into the wallsthereof. At the lower ends of the surfaces 3| are surfaces 32 whichtaper axially outward toward the lower end of the shredding chamber, asshown in Fig. 1. The tapered surfaces 32 tend to deflect material towardthe impeller elements. The smooth surfaces 3| and 32 impose a minimum ofresistance The bosses 21 are arranged in circumferentially spaced rowsdistributed about the axis of the chamber, each row consisting of twobosses one above the other. The bosses are so arranged that the cuttingsurfaces of the bosses in adjacent rows are, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4,staggered along helical curves on the side walls of the shreddingchamber. The helical curve produces an additional force feeding thewhirling mass of material toward the impeller elements. The staggeringof the cutting surfaces along the helical curve improves the cuttingaction on larger pieces of material in that successive cutting surfacesact upon different portions of the material. This result is alsoobtained by the circumferential spacing of the cutting surfaces sincethe spaces between the cutting surfaces permit the material to changeits position in the whirling mass. In other words, the material tends tofollow the cutting surfaces while in contact therewith and, in

the spaces between the cutting surfaces, tends to change its position.In addition to being staggered along the helical curve, the cuttingsurfaces are staggered axially or vertically along the side walls of theshredding chamber in that in each of the vertical rows the inner edge ofthe lower cutting surface is radially outward of the outer edge of theupper cutting surface. The lowermost bosses 21 terminate adjacent thelower end of the shredding chamber, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, providingshearing surfaces 33 for cooperation with the impeller elements ll. Inthe present construction three equally spaced bosses are providedcooperating with the impeller elements.

In the use of the apparatus the garbage is put into the upper casingsection I through the drain opening of the sink, the water is turned onand the motor started, the rotation of the impeller elements I! causesthe mixture of garbage and water to be whirled about the side walls ofthe shredding chamber 8. The solid particles are iii thrown outward bycentrifugal force against the shredding chamber and are shredded orreduced in size by impact with the upper cutting surfaces 28 and by ashearing action between the lowermost bosses 21 and the impellerelements 11. The shredded material falls through the straining grooves2| to the receiving chamber 22 whence it flows to the drain through thedischarge 1. At the lower end of the straining grooves the material issubjected to a shearing or clipping action by the surfaces 23 on theimpeller elements. This latter action is effective in cutting stringymaterial into short pieces so as to prevent clogging of the drains.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a frustoconicalshredding chamber having its outlet at the larger end, an impeller atthe larger end of the chamber for whirling the material around the wallsof the chamber, and spaced shredding projections on the walls of thechamber having inner faces flaring axially outward toward the larger endof the chamber and terminating in radially and circumferentiallyextending serrated cutting surfaces presented toward the impeller.

2. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a frustoconicalshredding chamber, an impeller at the larger end of the chamber forwhirling the material around the walls of the chamber, shreddingprojections having radially extending cutting surfaces extending axiallyalong and circumferentlally around the walls of the chamber andpresented respectively toward the whirling material and toward thelarger end of the chamber, said projections being spaced apart in anaxially extending row with the inner edges of the cutting surfaces ofthe successive projections lying radially outward of the outer edges ofthe cutting surface on the adjacent projection toward the smaller end ofthe chamber.

3. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shreddingfrustoconical chamber, an impeller at the larger end of the chamber forwhirling the material around the walls of the chamber, and shreddingprojections spaced apart circumferentially around the walls of thechamber having cutting surfaces projecting radially inward from saidwalls and presented toward the larger end of the chamber, and havingsmooth inner surfaces of an axial length relatively great compared tothe radial length of the cutting surfaces extending axially from theinner edges of said cutting surfaces toward the smaller end of thechamber, said inner surfaces tapering ax- ;aally outward toward saidlarger end of the chamr. 4. In apparatus for the comminution of solidsin a liquid, an impeller comprising a disk relatively unobstructed atthe center and having a blade outward of said unobstructed part, ashredding chamber having walls surrounding the impeller against whichthe liquid with its entrained solids is whirled by the impeller, part ofthe walls of the chamber being spaced axially from the blade out ofshearing cooperation with the blade but in cooperation with the whirlingliquid, and shredding projections having radially and circumferentiallyextending abrading surfaces presented toward the impeller and beingcircumferentially spaced apart on a helical curve on said part of thewalls of said chamber.

5. In apparatus for the comminution of solids in a liquid, an impellercomprising a disk relatively unobstructed at the center and having ablade outward of said unobstructed part, a shredding chamber havingwalls surrounding the impeller against which the liquid with itsentrained solids is whirled by the impeller, part of the walls of thechamber being spaced axially from the blade out of shearing cooperationwith the blade but in cooperation with the whirling liquid, andshredding projections having abrading surfaces extending axially andcircumferentially on said part of the side walls of the chamber andradially inward therefrom so as to be presented respectively to thewhirling liquid and to the impeller, the main body of thecircumferentially extending abrading surfaces being inclined toward theimpeller as regards its direction of rotation whereby the liquid isdeflected toward the impeller.

6., In apparatus for the comminution of material, a frustoconicalshredding chamber, an impeller at the larger end of the chamber having ablade adjacent the walls of the chamber for whirling the material aroundthe walls of the chamber, said impeller being relatively unobstructed atthe center, and a shredding projection comprising a boss on thefrustoconical side walls of the chamber having a radially projectingcutting surface extending axially and circumferentially on said wallsand presented respectively to the whirling material and to the impellerand having its inner face extending axially away from the impellertoward the smaller end of the chamber and merging gradually into thewalls thereof.

7. In apparatus for the comminution of solids in a liquid, an impellercomprising a disk relatively unobstructed at the center and having ablade outward of said unobstructed part, a shredding chamber havingwalls surrounding the impeller against which the liquid with itsentrained solids is whirled by the impeller, part of the walls of thechamber being spaced axially from the blade out of shearing cooperationwith the blade but in cooperation with the whirling liquid, and axiallyspaced rows of shredding projections on the walls of the chamber havingserrated cutting surfaces projecting radially inward from and extendingcircumferentially around said walls and presented toward the impellerand having smooth inner surfaces of an axial length relatively greatcompared to the radial length of the cutting surfaces, said innersurfaces extending axially from the inner edges of the cutting surfacestoward the opposite end of the chamber and merging into the walls of thechamber.

8. In apparatus for the comminution of solids in a liquid, a shreddingchamber, an impeller comprising a disk at one end of the chamber havinga blade at the outer part of the disk projecting toward the opposite endof the chamber for whirling the liquid and its entrained solids aroundthe walls of the chamber, shredding projections spaced apartcircumferentially around the walls of the chamber having cuttingsurfaces projecting radially inward from said walls and presented towardsaid one end of the chamber, said cutting surfaces being arranged on ahelical curve and part of said surfaces being spaced axially out ofshearing cooperation with the blade, and said shredding projectionshaving smooth inner surfaces of an axial length relatively greatcompared to the radial length of the cutting surfaces extending axiallyfrom the inner edges of said cuttin surfaces toward said opposite end ofthe chamber and merging into the walls of the chamber.

tending abrading surfaces on said bosses presented and circumferentiallyinclined toward the flywheel, and a blade on said flywheel projectingabove the flywheel toward the inlet end of the chamber for whirling theliquid and its entrained solids around the side walls of the shreddingchambensaid blade being arranged to sweep past said abrading surfacesinshearingcooperation with the blunt ends of part of the bosses.

10. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shredding chamberfor receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed axially through thechamber toward an outlet at one end of the chamber,

an impeller at the outlet end of the chamber having axially projectingimpelling means for whirlingthe mixture around the walls of the chamberat a speed such that thesolids are centrifugally moved toward the sidewalls of the chamber, part of the side walls of the chamber being spacedaxially out of shearing cooperation with the impelling means but incooperation with the whirling mixture, and shredding projections on theside walls of the chamber having radially extending cutting surfacespresented toward the impeller and being circumferentially spaced apartin a helical curve on said part of the Walls of the chamber whereby thesolids in the whirling mixture are comminuted by tumbling against saidradially extending cutting surfaces.

11. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shredding chamberfor receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed axially through thechamber toward an outlet at one end of the chamber, an impeller at theoutlet end of the chamber having axially projecting impelling means forwhirling the mixture around the walls of the chamber at a speed suchthat the solids are centrifugally moved toward the side walls of thechamber, part of the side walls of the chamber being spaced axially outof shearing coperation with the impelling means but in cooperation withthe whirling mixture, and shredding projections circumferentially spacedapart on said partof the side walls of the chamber and extending axiallyand circumferentially along the side walls and radially inward therefromso as to present radially extending cutting surfaces respectively to thewhirling mixture and to the impeller whereby the solids in the whirlingmixture are comminuted by tumbling against said surfaces, thecircumferentially extending part of said cutting surfaces being inclinedtoward the impeller as regards its direction of rotation whereby themixture is deflected toward the impeller.

12. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a frusto conicalshredding chamber for receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed intothe smaller end of the chamber toward an outlet at the larger end of thechamber, an impeller at the larger end of the chamber having axiallyprojecting impelling means for whirling the mixture around the sidewalls of the chamber at a speed such that the solids are centrifugallymoved toward the side walls of the chamber, part of the side walls ofthe chamber being spaced axially out of cooperation with the impellingmeans but in cooperation with the whirling mixture, and axiallydistributed shredding projections on said part of the side walls of thechamber, said projections comprising bosses having inner faces extendingtoward the smaller end of the chamber and merging gradually into thewalls thereof, and said bosses having axially and circumferentiallyextending cutting surfaces projecting radially from the side walls ofthe chamber to the inner faces of the bosses and presented respectivelyto the whirling mixture and to the impeller whereby the solids in thewhirling mixture are comminuted by tumbling against said radiallyextending cutting surfaces.

13. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shredding chamberfor receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed axially through thechamber toward an outlet at one end of the chamber, an impeller at theoutlet end of the chamber having axially projecting impelling means forwhirling the mixture around the walls of the chamber at a speed suchthat the solids are centrifugally moved toward the side walls of thechamber, part of the side walls of the chamber being spaced axially outof shearing cooperation with the impelling means but in cooperation withthe whirling mixture, and a shredding projection on said part of theside walls of the chamber comprising a boss having an inner faceextending axially away from the impeller and merging gradually into theside walls thereof, said boss having axially and circumferentiallyextending cutting surfaces projecting radially from the side walls ofthe chamber to said inner face and presented respectively to thewhirling mixture and to the impeller whereby the solids in the whirlingmixture are comminuted by tumbling against said radially extendingcutting surfaces.

14. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shredding chamberfor receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed axially through thechamber toward an outlet at one end of the chamber, an impeller at theoutlet end of the chamber for whirling the mixture around the walls ofthe chamber, axially spaced rows of shredding projectionscircumferentially spaced apart on the walls of the chamber havingcutting surfaces projecting radially inward from and extending axiallyand circumferentially along said walls and presented respectively to thewhirling mixture and to the impeller, and smooth inner surfaces on theshredding projections of an axial length relatively great compared tothe radial length of the cutting surfaces extending axially from theinner edges of the circumferentially extending cutting surfaces towardthe opposite end of the chamber and merging gradually into the walls ofthe chamber.

15. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shredding chamberfor receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed axially through thechamber toward an outlet at one end of the chamber, means for whirlingthe mixture around the walls of the chamber, shredding projectionsspaced apart circumferentially around the walls of the chamber havingcutting surfaces projecting radially inward from said walls andextending axially and circumferentially along said walls, said cuttingsurfaces being arranged on a helical curve, and said shreddingprojections having smooth inner surfaces of an axial length relativelygreat compared to the radial length of the cutting surfaces extendingaxially from the inner edges of said circumferential cutting surfacestoward the opposite end of the chamber and merging gradually into thewalls of the chamber.

16. In apparatus for the comminution of material, a shredding chamberfor receiving a mixture of liquid and solids fed axially through thecylinder while being whirled at a speed such that the solids arecentrifugally moved toward the side walls of the chamber, and shreddingprojections on the side walls of the chamber having smooth innersurfaces over which the whirling mixture freely slides and havingcutting surfaces against which the solids are tumbled projectingradially inward from the side walls of the chamber and terminating atsaid inner surfaces, said cutting surfaces extending axially andcircumferentially and having an area substantially less than the area ofsaid inner surfaces and being spaced apart circumferentially and axiallysufficient to allow the solids to change position in the whirlingmixture in the spaces between the cutting surfaces.

JAMES H. POWERS.

